A six-person committee has been established by the Kenya Kwanza and Azimio bipartisan coalition to study the reorganization of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Senators Edwin Sifuna of Nairobi, Enoch Wambua of Kitui, and Millie Odhiambo of Suba North will represent the Azimio camp. On the other hand, Kenya Kwanza will be represented by Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, and Bomet Senator Hillary Sigei. Senator Sifuna will serve as the squad captain for Azimio, and Senator Sigei will represent Kenya Kwanza.
The inter-parliamentary and extra-parliamentary hybrid system has been decided upon, according to the bipartisan negotiations committee. George Murugara, a Tharaka MP who also serves as co-chair of the nonpartisan committee, outlined how the approach will allow for both inside and outside of parliament conversations.
These negotiations will be both legislative and extra-parliamentary because of the hybrid of the two. The existence of this committee and the way it conducts its business will be acknowledged by parliament, according to Murugara.
“In extra-parliamentary discussions, we will invite non-parliamentarians to join us in the discussion of contentious issues.”
The bipartisan committee simultaneously sent letters to the National Assembly and Senate Speakers requesting recognition of the committee, funding, and the exclusion of members during the negotiation process.
“Request the Speakers of both Houses to commit to financially supporting the Committee through the secondment or recruitment of technical staff and provision of Hansard facilities as the Co-Chairpersons may request from time to time,” Murugara continued.